Alliance universities to receive almost a quarter of HEFCE investment to boost STEM teaching facilities

Twelve Alliance universities will receive more than £48 million funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching capital projects during 2015-16.

Alliance universities will receive almost a quarter of the £200 million pot that will be shared by 73 universities and colleges to ensure the higher education sector can develop the facilities and infrastructure vital to meeting the increasing demand for STEM subjects.

They include new provision in Chemistry and Physics, which declined during the last decade. Many of the projects support new collaborations with industry and sharing of space between subjects to support innovative teaching and improve efficiency. Funding is awarded on a matched basis with industry.

Sam Jones, Head of Comms at University Alliance, welcomed the announcement, adding:

“Alliance universities are leaders in providing the best possible educational experience for students. We educate one in four of all undergraduates on STEM courses and half of our universities’ research income comes from STEM-related areas.

“This funding for Alliance universities will help ensure even more students can benefit from our state-of-the-art teaching and facilities, and get the high-tech, problem-solving skills that modern employers and our world-leading science and research base need.”

Notes

HEFCE announced the 73 universities and college that will share the £200 million funding on 8 December 2014. The full details can be found here.